Colorado Vets Polled on Unwanted Horse, Euthanasia Issues
This survey of Colorado veterinarians was conducted to measure the magnitude of the unwanted horse problem and to identify the various options currently used to address the issue; 79% of surveyed equine veterinarians had euthanized a horse in the last year.
According to the results of this survey, 79% of responding equine veterinarians had euthanized a horse in the last year. Of these veterinarians, 19% said the number of euthanasia cases had increased from the previous year. Barbiturate overdose was used in 95% of the cases, and gunshots were used in the remaining 5% of cases. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of equine veterinarians stated they would be willing to use gunshot upon request, and survey comments indicated that there is interest in training in this method due to lower costs and reduced risks associated with carcass disposal.
Further, 77% of equine practitioners have seen unwanted horses during the last year, many due to age, injury or sickness. In approximately 83% of these cases, the inability to pay for health care was a factor.
Moreover, 22% of equine veterinarians have euthanized at least one horse for an owner’s convenience during the last year; 86% of equine veterinarians said there was no change in this pattern over the last year, though 23% reported an increase, mostly occurring in rural areas of the state.
Of the total veterinarians surveyed, 31% would be willing to euthanize a healthy horse for the owner’s convenience, 42% of equine veterinarians would be willing, and 46% of rural equine veterinarians would be willing to act similarly.